Brad P. Wham
Assistant Professor- Phone: (775) 682-5554
- Email: bwham@unr.edu
- Building: SEM
- Room: 218
- Website: Wham! Research Group
Brad Wham is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. His research interests combine physical testing, numerical simulations, analytical methods and field reconnaissance to assess infrastructure response to a variety of loading conditions, including those imposed by natural (e.g., earthquake, wildfire) and human-induced hazards. He has served on field reconnaissance teams in New Zealand, Japan, Turkey and Colorado to document lifeline infrastructure response to natural hazards and holds leadership roles across several professional organizations, including chairing the development of new testing standards for pipeline systems.
Prior to joining the University, Wham served as an assistant research professor and managing director of the Center for Infrastructure, Energy and Space Testing (CIEST) at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he led research initiatives across a variety of engineering fields and experimental facilities. Before that, he was a post-doc at Cornell University’s Geotechnical Lifelines Large-Scale Testing Facility, where he designed and implemented full-scale fault rupture tests on hazard-resilient water distribution pipelines.
He earned his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in geotechnical engineering and M. Eng. in structural engineering at Cornell University. He earned his B.Sc. in civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech.
Education
- Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering (Geotechnical), Cornell University, 2015
- M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering (Geotechnical), Cornell University, 2013
- M.Eng., Structural Engineering, Cornell University, 2011
- B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2010
- Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER)
- Earthquake Engineering Research Association (EERI)
- Co-Chair: Learning for Earthquakes Lifelines Reconnaissance Subcommittee
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
- Chair: Standard Committee: Structural Testing and Evaluation of Pipeline Systems
- Associate Editor: Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice
- Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI)
- Infrastructure Resiliency Division (IRD)
- American Water Works Association (AWWA)
- ASTM International: F17 Committee
Research interests
- Hazard-resilient lifeline systems:
- Numerical and analytical modeling of pipeline system response to geohazards
- Multi-scale soil-structure interaction of buried infrastructure
- Seismic design and analysis of water and wastewater systems
- Wildfire impacts on water distribution systems: preparation, response and recovery
- Disaster reconnaissance and lifeline system response/recovery
- Smart infrastructure systems and advanced instrumentation
- Trenchless rehabilitation of pipeline systems: evaluation and design
- Large-scale testing and seismic evaluation of structural systems
- Geotechnical centrifuge modeling of soil-infrastructure interaction
Selected publications
See a complete list of Dr. Wham’s publications.
[J34] Brito, L., Dashti, S., Liel, A.B., Wham, B.P., & Bessette, C. (2025). Deformation Mechanisms in Stratigraphically Layered Liquefiable Deposits Near Buildings on Shallow Foundations. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 151(3), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-12741
[J32] Klingaman, J., Wham, B.P., Dixon, P., Dashti, S. (2024). External loading-induced deformations of deteriorated pipelines rehabilitated with internal replacement technologies. Tunneling and Underground Space Technology, 157(March), 106272. doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2024.106272
[J31] Toprak, S., Wham, B.P., Nacaroglu, E., Ceylan, M., & Dal, O. (2024). Performance of Water Supply During the February 6th Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes. Earthquake Spectra. doi.org/10.1177/87552930241293571
[J30] Rose, H.R., Wham, B.P., Banushi, G. (2024). Soil–Pipeline Interaction of Hybrid-Segmented Systems under Axial Ground Movement. ASCE Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, 16(1), 1–13. doi.org/10.1061/JPSEA2.PSENG-1627
[J23] Ahmadi, H., Manalo, A., Dixon, P.G., Salah, A., Karunasena, W., Tien, C.M.T., Kiriella, S., O’Rourke, T.D. & Wham, B.P. (2024). Temperature change-induced linear and nonlinear axial responses of internal replacement pipe (IRP) systems for pipeline rehabilitation incorporating the effects of soil friction. Structures. 62(March), 106247. doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2024.106247
[J22J] Rose, H.R., Wham, B.P., Dashti, S., & Liel, A.B. (2024). Axial Resistance of Pipelines with Enlarged Joints. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 150(9), 1–16. doi.org/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-12017 [JAwarded Editor’s Choice]
[J18] Metz, A.J., Fischer, E.C.,& Wham, B.P. (2023). Behavior of Service Lateral Pipes during Wildfires: Testing Methodologies and Impact on Drinking Water Contamination. ACS ES&T Water. 3(2), 275–286. doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.2c00248
[J17] Whelton, A.J., Seidel, C., Wham, B.P., Fischer, E.C., Isaacson, K., Jankowski, C., MacArthur, N., McKenna, E. Ley, C. (2023). The Marshall Fire: Scientific and Policy Needs for Water System Disaster Response. AWWA Water Science. 5(1), 1–21. doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1318
[J16] Dixon, P., Tafsirojjaman, T., Klingaman, J., Hubler, M.H., Dashti, S., O’Rourke, T.D., Farrag, K., Manalo, A., & Wham, B.P. (2023). State-of-the-art Review of Performance Objectives for Legacy Gas Pipelines with Pipe-in-Pipe Rehabilitation Technologies. ASCE Journal of Pipeline Systems and Engineering Practice,14(2), 1–13. doi.org/10.1061/JPSEA2.PSENG-1371
[J12J] Banushi, G. & Wham, B.P. (2021). Deformation capacity of buried hybrid-segmented pipelines under longitudinal permanent ground deformation. Canadian Geotechnical Journal,58(8), 1095–1117. doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2020-0049 [JAwarded Editor’s Choice]
[J10] Wham, B.P., & Davis, C.A. (2019). Buried Continuous and Segmented Pipelines Subjected to Longitudinal Permanent Ground Deformation. ASCE Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, 10(4), 04019036. 10.1061/(ASCE)PS.1949-1204.0000400